Solar table clamp
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The installation of large-scale solar panel systems is cost-prohibitive due to the complexity and inefficiency of transporting and assembling solar panels and torque tubes across large, remote areas, where traditional methods require time-consuming assembly and access to torque tubes, which becomes impractical as system size increases.
Innovation Solution
The development of clamps that securely attach solar panels to torque tubes during transport, allowing for efficient movement and easy removal at installation points, facilitating centralized assembly and reducing the need for on-site assembly of torque tubes before solar panel attachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If solar panels are individually assembled and installed at each location within the system, then access to torque tubes is ensured for proper bolt insertion, but the installation process becomes time-consuming and cost-prohibitive as system size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp allows solar panels to be pre-assembled on torque tubes at a centralized location before transport to the installation site. This preliminary assembly action eliminates the need for time-consuming on-site assembly while the clamp's removable design ensures access to torque tubes when needed during installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamp acts as an intermediary component that temporarily secures solar panels to torque tubes during transport, allowing pre-assembly without permanent attachment. This mediator enables efficient transport while maintaining the ability to access torque tubes for proper installation at the destination.
2Reliability
If solar panels are transported with clamps securing them to torque tubes, then safe transport is enabled, but access to torque tubes is blocked for proper installation
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp transitions from a static permanent attachment to a dynamic removable connection. It provides secure attachment during transport, then can be quickly removed at the installation site to allow access to torque tubes for proper bolt insertion and system integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamp enables preliminary securing of solar panels to torque tubes at the assembly location, ensuring safe transport. At the installation site, the clamp is removed as a temporary measure, allowing access to torque tubes for the final permanent installation.
3Ease of manufacture
If traditional assembly methods are used for large-scale solar systems, then individual panel installation is ensured, but labor costs and installation complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into modular units (solar tables with pre-assembled panels and torque tubes) that can be independently manufactured, transported, and installed. The clamp enables this segmentation by providing temporary secure attachment during transport while allowing easy separation for final installation.
Solution Approach 2:
Complex assembly operations are performed in advance at a centralized assembly location where solar panels are pre-attached to torque tubes using clamps. This preliminary action simplifies the on-site installation process, reducing both labor costs and installation complexity for large-scale deployments.
Data Source
AI summary
A clamp is described that couples a torque tube and at least one solar panel within a solar table. The clamp provides an efficient attachment when in a closed position that allows transportation of the solar table from a centralized assembly location to an installation point within a large-scale solar system. The clamp further provides an efficient process solar table mobile transport is described that moves a solar table to a point of installation. The clamp may be efficiently opened by personnel at the installation point to enable access to a section of the torque tube.